Book Review: ‘Arab Americans in Toledo’

By Vicki L. Kroll

Abu-Absi

Hollywood hasn’t been kind to Arab Americans. From films that include “Black Sunday” and “Patriot Games” to the TV shows “24” and “Sleeper Cell,” Middle Easterners tend to be typecast as villains.

Such celluloid depiction is one reason Dr. Samir Abu-Absi edited and wrote a chapter for a new book, Arab Americans in Toledo (The University of Toledo Press).

“Unfair and gratuitous stereotypical images of Arab Americans are so prevalent in Western media and popular culture,” he said. “While I was familiar with the negative stereotype attached to Arabs and Muslims, I had faith that the American people were fair-minded enough to recognize the stereotype for what it is.”

But the Gulf War and 9-11 added fuel to vilifying anything Arab or Muslim.

“This is a tremendous problem that needs to be addressed with vigilance,” Abu-Absi said.

The UT professor emeritus of English was born in Lebanon and came to the States for graduate school. After receiving master’s and doctoral degrees in Indiana, he joined the UT faculty and moved to Toledo, where he has lived for more than 40 years.

“I wanted to help recognize the valuable contributions of Arab Americans in Toledo whose stories of struggle, success and community involvement deserve to be told,” he said. “These are decent, hard-working, intelligent people who defy the prevalent stereotype.”

The 320-page book is divided into three sections: heritage, profiles and interviews.

Danny Thomas and Jamie Farr, two celebrities who grew up in the Glass City, are included in the profile section.

“Jamie Farr encouraged me to do this project,” Abu-Absi said. “He gave me permission to reprint some chapters from his autobiography, which we did. He is a very approachable, kind person who loves Toledo.”

More than 30 people helped Abu-Absi with the book. They conducted interviews, wrote chapters and tracked down information.

“It really was a labor of love that so many people contributed to,” Abu-Absi said.

Several of these people have UT connections. Dr. Saleh Jabarin, director of the UT Polymer Institute, wrote a chapter on the University’s Imam Khattab Endowed Chair in Islamic Studies, and Dr. S. Amjad Hussain, UT trustee and professor emeritus of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, contributed a chapter on Abdul Moneim Mahmoud Khattab. Interviews featured include George Isaac, UT benefactor and namesake of UT Medical Center’s George Isaac Minimally Invasive Surgery Center; Dr. Amira Gohara, former acting MCO president and professor and dean emerita of pathology; and Dr. Sonia Najjar, UT professor of physiology and pharmacology and director of the Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research. Dr. Gaby Semaan, UT lecturer in Arabic, and Michelle Davidson, UT associate lecturer in English, conducted interviews. And numerous University alumni wrote chapters and helped with interviews.

“As an editor and publisher, I am really proud of this book,” said Dr. Tom Barden, director of the UT Honors Program, professor of English and co-editor of the UT Press. “Dr. Abu-Absi and his co-authors have created a fascinating and delightful portrait of this great Toledo community.

“They have also given us an important and timely book. There is so much bigotry and ignorance swirling around the words ‘Arab’ and ‘Arab-American’ right now that I think everyone in the country ought to read it.

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